This section of the site is organized
according to a more or less historic time table. In essence,
this is how my research was conducted: I studied as much as was
possible about the practices of key figures throughout time,
starting with the references to the Ramayana and
old Egyptian papyri, moving forwards in time through all the
fads and fashions of medicine: Hippocrates, Galen, Hildegard
of Bingen, Paracelsus . . . and then the Inquisition, the
exodus from Europe to the Americas, the reliance on indigenous
people for knowledge of the use the herbs growing in the Americas,
the experts in cancer treatment who emerged out of the blending
of medical traditions, and finally the present in which Frederic
Mohs became the heir to applications of the method by professional
physicians and Harry
Hoxsey played a similar role in keeping alive lay methods,
ironically using virtually identical bloodroot pastes.

Professional medicine has no use
for laymen. A patient who says, "I feel better" or "I
feel worse" is not taken seriously because it takes a doctor
to determine whether or not the treatment is working. In theory,
some of this absurdity is eliminated when a patient sees a holistic
MD, but in reality, most holistic MDs had extensive training
as doctors and very little training in natural medicine so they
are usually, as Andrew Weil proved recently, more comfortable
with what they learned in a disciplined fashion in medical school.

However, as one friend of mine
said publicly to an enormous audience, he would rather see an
herbalist with 30 years experience than a medical doctor who
took a weekend workshop on herbs and still doesn't really know
how to apply the little he or she learned. For me, it's not black
and white. It always comes down to the right protocol at the
right time for the right person.

For myself, I do what I do largely for two reasons:

1. I know how patients suffer and I am totally committed
to finding realistic ways to relieve pain and misery; and

2. in the course of my research for the book, I flew into
periodic rages because of the greed on the one hand and suppression
of competition on the other.

I have been absolutely committed
to making certain that enough information reaches enough persons
that no political or economic force could ever eradicate the knowledge
of natural medicine nor garner it for private profit. As John Robbins
has said, the Inquisition is very much alive and well today. I
might add that though people are not being burned at the stakes,
they are being poisoned and maimed by an industrial complex that
is utterly indifferent to consequences.

Thus, whether I look at the fouling
of air, water, soil, and the food supply or genetic engineering
of crops that are cross pollinating with native species of plants,
I cannot just sit back quietly and leave the ranting and raving
to others. However, in taking the position I take, I want to make
a few things very clear.

The fact that I exercise my right
to freedom of speech does not mean that whatever I say applies
to individual situations. I am looking at the global picture. I
am alarmed by the "security breeches" of viruses, by
the experiments with new vaccines and drugs that put animals and
people at risk, by the irreversible impact of science on the environment,
and by trends in which only the very, very rich could ever hope
to corner the monopolies on medicine that God and Nature have freely
bestowed on all creatures.

Thus, while this my concern and my
motivation, I am acutely aware that for an individual cancer sufferer,
the best action is to choose the most effective treatment in the
most timely way possible. Acquiring the kind of education I have
takes time, and while I try to share all I can, I realize that
no one can explore the depths of my knowledge in a short time.
Likewise, while I was doing my studying, others were creating the
music that I enjoy as balm for my soul . . . and they were doing
their parts to keep this world in order. I see this as a fair trade,
but keep in mind that for all intents and purposes, none of the
healing strategies or products described on the pages on this site
have been researched in anything remotely resembling a modern study.
Believe me, I have tried to encourage people to research a few
things, maybe with easy to treat conditions such as small basal
cell or squamous cell carcinomas, but I learned quickly that humanitarian
concerns are put aside when money is necessary to fund studies.
Suddenly, the only thing that counts is whether or not it will
be possible to patent the
products that prove successful.

You want to know what I have told
the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who have approached me
with proposals?

"I was so outraged by the secrecy that worked against
the interests of patients that I published every formula
and the methodology of every practitioner so that no one
would ever be able to keep this knowledge from the patients
who need it. I am therefore only willing to work with people
whose motivations are purely humanitarian, not financial."

Frankly, I'm half proud and half
remorseful. I'm glad I did what I did because my motivations were
right for me, but they were also so unrealistic and counter to
the wisdom of Wall Street that I have almost guaranteed that no
one but another fool such as myself would ever undertake to spend
the kind of time and money it takes to do proper trials.

So, before presenting our list of
historic persons and the products Sacred Medicine Sanctuary has
re-created, let me just add that while I feel I understand the
people and the products, I do not believe there is any such thing
as one product that is right for everyone . . . nor is it true
that everyone who has cancer should go the holistic route. Everyone
should listen to the drummer and march to his or her own truth
. . . and take responsibility for the choices made, including those
that fail as well as those that work. Earth can be an agonizing
school, and sometimes our most difficult lessons are learned when
our choices appear to have betrayed us rather than when we seem
to be in charge.

In saying this, I am not suggesting
the historic products are likely to fall in either the success
or fail category. No treatment works for everyone. Some people
present too late; some people choose protocols that do not really
fit their needs; some do not support their need for health with
suitable life style changes; and some should not be praised or
blamed for anything because the clock of life is ultimately ruled
by a force that operates completely beyond our understanding.

Much of the material on this site is historic or ethnobotanical in origin. The information presented is not intended to replace the services of a qualified health care professional. All products discussed on this site are best used under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.

We encourage patients and their friends and family to avail themselves of the information found on the Internet and to share their discoveries with their primary care practitioners. If there are questions about the suitability of a product or strategy, please have your practitioner contact the web hostess.

We are interested in feedback, clinical data, suggestions, and proposals for research and product development. While we naturally hope for the happiest outcome in all situations, the authors of this web site, webmaster, server, publishers, and Sacred Medicine Sanctuary are not responsible for the success, failure, side effects, or outcome of the use of any of the information or healing strategies described on this site.

Sacred Medicine SanctuaryCopyright by Ingrid Naiman 2000, 2001, 2005

*The information provided at this site
is for informational purposes only. These statements and products
have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information on this page and these products are not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. They are not
intended to replace professional medical care. You should always
consult a health professional about specific health problems.